PMQs - blanket coverage?

[J. P. Gilliver]

(Sorry, not really a _technical_ question.)

Is it really necessary for all three news networks - BBC, Sky, and GBN -
to cover the weekly brayfest, live and completely? Oh, and BBC
Parliament _as well_. That is particularly irritating, having the two
BBC channels simulcasting it.

[MB]

Post by J. P. Gilliver
Is it really necessary for all three news networks - BBC, Sky, and GBN -
to cover the weekly brayfest, live and completely? Oh, and BBC
Parliament_as well_. That is particularly irritating, having the two
BBC channels simulcasting it.

The BBC have to cover PMQs - imagine the fuss from the politicians if
they did not.

Aren't Sky News and probably GBN just vanity projects that do not make
any money?

[Adrian Caspersz]

Post by MB
The BBC have to cover PMQs - imagine the fuss from the politicians if
they did not.
Aren't Sky News and probably GBN just vanity projects that do not make
any money?

Going forward, could GBN register as a charity?

[J. P. Gilliver]

Post by Adrian Caspersz

Post by MB
The BBC have to cover PMQs - imagine the fuss from the politicians if
they did not.
Aren't Sky News and probably GBN just vanity projects that do not
make any money?

Going forward, could GBN register as a charity?

I thought Sky news was - at least initially - a sort of hangover from
some sort of public service obligation, like ITN was.

As for GBN, I suspect it actually does appeal to a certain segment of
the population, so could make a profit - much as (at least I presume!)
the Daily Mail does (though not quite the same demographic, though a big
overlap).

[Mark Carver]

Post by J. P. Gilliver

Post by Adrian Caspersz

Post by MB
The BBC have to cover PMQs - imagine the fuss from the politicians
if they did not.
 Aren't Sky News and probably GBN just vanity projects that do not
make  any money?

Going forward, could GBN register as a charity?

I thought Sky news was - at least initially - a sort of hangover from
some sort of public service obligation,

Sky have never had any public service obligation, they only have to
conform to being 'legal, decent, and honest' as a UK broadcaster

Post by J. P. Gilliver
like ITN was.

ITV, C4, and C5 all have PSB obligations to provide minimum news output.
The quotas vary between them, and of course only ITV have to provide
regional news. (ITN is the national/international news contractor for
all three of those broadcasters, but ultimate editorial responsibility
is with each of those broadcasters and not ITN)

[J. P. Gilliver]

Post by MB

Post by J. P. Gilliver
Is it really necessary for all three news networks - BBC, Sky, and GBN -
to cover the weekly brayfest, live and completely? Oh, and BBC
Parliament_as well_. That is particularly irritating, having the two
BBC channels simulcasting it.

The BBC have to cover PMQs - imagine the fuss from the politicians if
they did not.

The BBC should be able to withstand such pressure - I don't think there
is anything in the actual charter that says specifically they have to
carry it. But anyway, BBC Parliament would, and I accept it being on
there.

PMQs is long past its sell-by date, anyway, due to the behaviour of
politicians (and those instructing them). Once, I think it was a genuine
opportunity to ask questions to elucidate information - OK, barbed
questions, but at least nominally questions. However, for the last few
years at least, it has degraded into just a baiting session, where the
"questions" are not really questions at all, but just to make the PM (or
his deputy) look bad. (And this applies whichever party is in power.)
It's purely a brayfest, serving no purpose; the politicians who might
make a fuss if it wasn't covered are only the brayers (and those
controlling them), and thus (a) shouldn't be paid any heed (b) should be
ashamed of themselves (but of course have no shame).

Post by MB
Aren't Sky News and probably GBN just vanity projects that do not make
any money?

Dunno. Still doesn't make it any more desirable that they and BBC News
duplicate BBC Parliament.

[John Williamson]

Post by J. P. Gilliver
Dunno. Still doesn't make it any more desirable that they and BBC News
duplicate BBC Parliament.

It's not just PMQ. Nicky Campbell is currently broadcasting his live
radio show every day on Radio 5 Live, BBC2, BBC News and BBC Parliament.

Last time I accidentally tuned in, the video was from a single camera
with text in a frame round it.

[MB]

Post by J. P. Gilliver
PMQs is long past its sell-by date, anyway, due to the behaviour of
politicians (and those instructing them).

If you think questions in Parliament are bad then try watching the
Edinbrugh Parliament especially when the Canadian woman is answering
questions. She reads everything from a pre-prepared script.

[Brian Gaff]

I don't think that matters. I wondered if it all might be a smoke screen as
I caught the end of something about the so called fair referendum on the EU
was in fact gerrymandered by the leave campaign. This was from another EU
country, but it seems to me having listened to many foreign news outlets
recently, that our news of late is very selective.
Brian
--
Brian Gaff - ***@blueyonder.co.uk

Blind user, so no pictures please!

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Post by J. P. Gilliver
Is it really necessary for all three news networks - BBC, Sky, and GBN -
to cover the weekly brayfest, live and completely? Oh, and BBC
Parliament_as well_. That is particularly irritating, having the two
BBC channels simulcasting it.

The BBC have to cover PMQs - imagine the fuss from the politicians if they
did not.
Aren't Sky News and probably GBN just vanity projects that do not make any
money?

[Mark Carver]

Post by J. P. Gilliver
(Sorry, not really a _technical_ question.)
Is it really necessary for all three news networks - BBC, Sky, and GBN
- to cover the weekly brayfest, live and completely? Oh, and BBC
Parliament _as well_. That is particularly irritating, having the two
BBC channels simulcasting it.

It's an event that only occurs for 30 mins, once a week. It is, as
you've observed, only carried on four out of gazillions of other TV
channels.

May I suggest you organise a 30 min lunchtime walk every Weds at noon ?
(Other options are available)

[Andy Burns]

Post by J. P. Gilliver
(Sorry, not really a _technical_ question.)
Is it really necessary for all three news networks - BBC, Sky, and GBN -
to cover the weekly brayfest, live and completely?

I quite like the Matt Chorley "pause the action" version of PMQs, I just
listen on radio, there's not that much to be gained by watching it on
youtube. It's funny, when Times Radio first began, I thought he was
"too chummy", but I generally find he's OK now.

Similarly I thought I was going to have to switch off whenever Ayesha
Hazarika came on (based on her appearances on LBC) but she's far less
rabidly political now and I quite enjoy her show.